Uniquely Singapore - Chinatown Singapore Attraction

A short stroll in Chinatown Singapore

Chinatown Singapore - a man resting

Chinatown Singapore is a historical settlement area for many Chinese immigrants.  Today Chinatown Singapore is a tourist attraction that is considered a uniquely Singapore attraction.

Street of Chinatown - lantern festival

Lanterns adorn the street

Lanterns everywhere

Here you can discover restaurants aplenty, tourist attractions and many other interesting finds.

Some interesting finds

If you start from URA centre at Maxwell Road, you can check out the enormous model replica of Singapore at the Singapore City Gallery.  Situated between historic Chinatown Singapore and the Central Business District, this allows visitors to get a complete view of the Central Area of Singapore and also the city’s physical transformation past, present and future. 

Moving on to South Bridge Road, you will be greeted by a few religious buildings within walking distance from each other.

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is immediately noticeable with its solid gold two-metre stupa on the fourth floor where its sacred relic is kept.  This Singapore attraction Buddhist Temple houses 300 Buddhist artefacts from Asia.  If you would like to know more, you can join the free English language tour which is conducted every Tuesday and Thursday.  Book early to avoid disappointment.

Buddha Tooth Relic temple against a backdrop of public housing

Located on Smith Street, Chinatown Food Street provides alfresco dining.  The high ceiling glass canopy provides shelter from the weather elements.  The Chinatown Food Street seeks to bring back the nostalgic street dining from yesteryears. 

View of Sri Mariamman Temple

Sri Mariamman Temple

Moving a short distance along South Bridge Road near Pagoda Street, you will come across the Sri Mariamman Temple.  One of the oldest Hindu Temple in Singapore, this uniquely Singapore tourist attraction stands out for its many colourful sculptures of Hindu deities making a great photo opportunity, especially the landmark entrance tower.  The fire-walking festival, Theemithi, is celebrated at this temple annually.

Sri Mariamman Temple - landmark entrance tower

Sri Mariamman temple surrounding

Trengganu Street is now a pedestrian mall where you can find stalls selling knick knacks of sorts.  Soak in the atmosphere of the old Chinatown as you search for that special souvenir for your loved ones.

Chinatown Singapore

Peranakan influence

Shops

Entrance to the food street

Antiques

Busy Chinatown street

Chinatown mosque - Masjid Jamae

One of Singapore’s oldest mosque, Masjid Jamae or Masjid Chulia is another Singapore landmark.  Established in 1826, Masjid Jamae is one of the approved mosques in Singapore to conduct the yearly sacrificial event.

Old shophouses

One of the new kid on the block - a shopping centre

Chinatown Singapore used to be where the Chinese immigrants gathered and settled in the early years.  Rich in history, you will find souvenir shops, antiques and boutiques as you stroll through the area which is a uniquely Singapore tourist attraction.

London Four Seasons Restaurant - London Hidden Gems

Four Seasons Restaurant London

When in London eating is a big thing.  We were given a list of the London hidden gems that we needed to try and London Four Seasons Restaurant was on that list.  :)

Interior

We visited the Baywater branch and being the second day of Chinese New Year, this London Chinese restaurant was almost fully booked as expected. 

Four Seasons Restaurant menu

Menu

Menu

Reservations was made for an early 5.30pm dinner.  As it was still early, the restaurant was still quite empty.  We were ushered to a table near the back where the three of us had to squeeze in between two occupied tables and it was very cramped.  Fortunately they accommodated our request to be shifted to another table, albeit with great reluctance.

Vegetable menu

Menu

History of Four Seasons Restaurant

Table setting

Service seemed to be somewhat rough.  As we were seated near the entrance, we witnessed a few incidences where we felt that the service standard could be improved.

Peking duck

Peking duck with its condiments

Fried rice

Vegetable dish

Noodles

Roast duck - yummy

As the restaurant is famous for their duck dishes, we ordered the peking duck, roasted duck, a vegetable dish, fried rice and noodles.  This was a bit overdoing it and not surprising that we could not do justice to the dishes.

Our dishes

The roasted duck was good!  This is what they are known for and if you like duck, this would be a great dish.  Peking duck is the duck skin which is cooked to a crisp and wrapped in a crepe skin with cucumber, spring onion and black sauce.  Felt that the skin was not as crisp as it could be. 

Menu at entrance

Chinese New Year menu

Other than that, other dishes were alright and heard that there are other London hidden gems of food outlets that would create a better London eating experience. 

Roasted meat as can be seen from the roadside

Windpoint Lighthouse - Racine

WInd Point Lighthouse Racine

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Wind Point Lighthouse Racine is one of the oldest and tallest active lighthouses on the Great Lakes.  It is located in the Village of Windpoint in Racine County, USA. 

Wind Point Lighthouse - National Register of Historic Places

Built in 1880, the Windpoint Lighthouse stands at 108 feet tall with 144 cast iron steps.  November 15, 1880 marks the day that the Lighthouse was lit for the very first time.

Wind Point Lighthouse

Foghorn Museum

Brick garden walkway

 We were there during the winter and thus was not able to view the beautiful brick garden walkway near the lakeshore.

Fuel Building

Fuel House

 In the olden days, Lighthouse keepers and their assistants took turns to ensure that the light of the Lighthouse remained on.  Fuel for the kerosene lamp had to be carried up daily until 1924 when the lights were electrified.  In 1964, the lights were automated so that Lighthouse keepers were no longer required.

View of Lake Michigan

View of Lake Michigan

View of Lake Michigan

Beautiful views

If you are planning a visit to the Windpoint Lighthouse in Racine, would highly recommend making a reservation to visit the Wingspread House by Frank Lloyd Wright, another historic site, and then dropping by the Windpoint Lighthouse which is just a short distance away.